Mangalore: Ronald Colaco urges Christians to strengthen IFKCA organizational platform

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (NM)

Mangalore, Nov 25: "Christian community has been the pioneer in bringing education in our country, apart from rendering selfless services in the field of healthcare and social services. Our missionaries opened tens of thousands of schools and institutes of learning, not only for Christians but also for all other communities of the society. People of many communities who studied in our institutes were able to build up due and adequate representation in the political, administrative and judiciary fields by taking active participation. But our community has miserably failed to hold the required representation, which has resulted in sidelining of our community in all matters of providing even nominal positions. IKFCA is working towards encouraging Christian youth to actively get into the political field from grassroots level, for example gram panchayat, taluk panchayat, city corporations and assemblies by actively involving themselves," said Ronald Colaco, president of International Federation of Karnataka Christian Association (IFKCA).

He was addressing a meeting of Christian leaders organized by IFKCA on Friday November 22. Leaders of the community, Christian corporators, panchayat members and others were present.

Colaco further said, "We Christians are known for our immense contribution to education. Earlier there was Gurukul system where education was reserved only for the upper class, however, after Christian missionaries came to India there was no such barrier in education.

"National poet Kuvempu had once said that it was due to education imparted by the missionaries in slums and villages across the country that he was able to get educated and could thus become a national poet. If today there is so much development in the country, it is because the contribution of Christian missionaries in services and education sectors has played a major role in the achievements of the country," he added.

Stressing on the need for the community to be more active, he said, "We have failed to show our strength as an electorate. That is why politicians feel the Christian community is not influential or the deciding factor in elections. If this trend  continues the atrocities against Christians will not stop. Fundamentalists portray 'conversion' as an excuse to sideline the services of Christians. Hence, everyone must register themselves in the electoral list. We are not here to fight, we are peace lovers. IFKCA will never entertain anything that is against the law." 

"For several years Christians did not have a strong organization and that is why whenever there was any issue against the community no one dared to raise their voice and no one came together, as there was no organization. I urge everyone to encourage people to get into active politics, bureaucracy, judiciary and such sectors. We (IFKCA) have taken it seriously and will work towards it. We have imparted eduction but lagged behind when it comes to getting into these sectors. This is our weakness, and it is high time we correct ourselves," he added.

He also stressed on the need for proper security for our educational institutions, churches, prayer centres, and elsewhere. "The fundamentlists are using the conversion tag to destroy our good work," he said, calling upon the community to work together unitedly as an organization.

"IFKCA will establish more centres to learn the needs of the people, build the network and provide all the privileges and benefits that are available for minorties from the government to them. It will also act as a bridge between the people and the government to ensure that government schemes and amenities reach them, especialy the Dalit Christians. This is just a beginning and from here we have to go on, let us all join our hands together to protect our community, " Colaco entreated, urging people to keep the community's and the society's interests above personal agendas.

Dubai-based entrepreneur Frank Fernandes in his address said, "All other communities come together whenever anything happens to any individual of their community, but in our community we do not. Nevertheless, today we are blessed to have something that will enable us to raise our voice."

MLA J R Lobo cited several examples wherein Christians were either denied government facilities or had to face atrocities because of lack of adequate Christian representation. "There is a need to fight for reservation and protection of Dalit Christian, as they are poor and need government facilities," he said.

Lauding Ronald Colaco for establishing IFKCA, he said, "IFKCA can sort out the problems faced by Christians. This is not a time to be afraid or sit back. We need to raise our voice. We need to take up politics and administrative services. Although we are less in number our contribution to society is immense, but we need to use our brains and work."

Advocate M P Noronha said, "When there is any atrocity against our community we fight back only by posting comment on daijiworld or writing letter to the editor of Raknno, but we have no guts to fight directly. The reason is that we did not have an association to lead us. We hope IFKCA will fulfill this need and enable us to fight from booth-level."

IFKCA state coordinator Denis D'Silva in his address said, "I am happy that on a short notice we have all come together. There was IFKCA meeting in Dubai recently with leaders of the community, wherein as many as 30 associations came forward to affiliate with IFKCA. Our main goal is to encourage Christians in all sectors through their existing organizations all over the world and also to strengthen our community and fight against atrocities."

IFKCA Mangalore president Roy Castelino welcomed the gathering.

A power point presentation on IFKCA briefed the audience on the formation of the association, its objectives, achievements, work done and so on.

Walter Maben, president of Karnataka Missions Network offered the prayer.